KAKATA, Margibi – The chairman of Margibi’s Project Management Committee, Thompson Nana, has disclosed that projects that were authorized to be funded with Margibi’s County Social Development Funds in 2019 are at about 85 percent completed.
Nana said 17 of the targeted 23 projects earmarked by citizens had been completed while 2 are ongoing and the remaining 4 are yet to get started.
“The remaining projects have not started because of low funding. We are hoping that funding could be available soon to kick start these projects,” Nana said.
He expressed optimism that these pending projects earmarked in the county resolution could be started and completed if the county gets the required funding.
Several clinics, schools, town halls, and sanitation facilities are among the 23 projects selected in 2019 during a County Development Sitting by citizens drawn from the five electoral districts of Margibi. The sitting was held in accordance with the Budget Law, which calls for citizen participation in the selection of development priorities.
The 128 delegates resolved to use US$750,000 to fund project overhead and development priority projects. That money was provided by iron ore mining company China Union, as is required by a mineral development agreement the company signed with Liberia.
Of the US$750,000, the county council allotted US$42,750 to the Project Management Committee for projects supervision, US$28,500 to the County Administration for overhead, US$91,475,000 to the county’s scholarship program, US$31,575 to disaster management, US$5000 to community radio stations in the county and US$8,000 allotted to the Mboo Statutory District for overhead.
The council also allotted US$37,500 to communities most affected by China Union’s mining activities for projects that could enhance the recovery of damages the mining may cause to locals.
The balance was equally spread among the five electoral districts for proposed projects drafted in their resolution at their respective district sittings. Each of the five districts in the county received US$101,040 to fund their incomplete or evolving projects that were captured for implementation at their district sittings.
Featured photo by Emmanuel Degleh
